Sundance Film Festival Premieres of ‘If I Had Legs I’d Kick You’ & ‘Ricky’

Day 2 of the Sundance Film Festival is in full swing with buzzy premiering films today from director Mary Bronstein’s feature, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You; Rashad Frett’s film Ricky, Evan Twohy’s debut feature, Bubble & Squeak, and Rabbit Trap from director Bryn Chainey.

The cast and crew of A24’s latest film, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, directed by Mary Bronstein and starring Rose Byrne, Conan O’Brien, Daniel Zolghadri, and Danielle Macdonald, attended the premiere at the Library Center Theatre. The film follows Linda (Rose Byrne), whose life spirals out of control as she grapples with her child’s mysterious illness, her estranged husband, a missing person, and a deteriorating relationship with her therapist.

Following this premiere, the festival showcased Ricky, starring Stephan James in the titular role. This film delves into the challenges faced by Ricky, a 30-year-old recently released from prison after a teenage conviction. As he navigates newfound independence, Ricky grapples with the complexities of life after incarceration, including the pursuit of self-sufficiency. The cast includes Sheryl Lee Ralph, Titus Welliver, Maliq Johnson, Imani Lewis, and Andrene Ward-Hammond.

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Evan Twohy’s Bubble & Squeak, an adaptation of his acclaimed comedic play, premiered at the Eccles Theater with cast Himesh Patel, Sarah Goldberg, Steven Yeun, Dave Franco, and Matt Berry attending the premiere. The quirky film follows Declan (Himesh Patel) and Delores (Sarah Goldberg), a newlywed couple accused of smuggling cabbages into a nation where they are banned. Forced to flee for their lives, they must confront the fragility of their marriage while on the run.

Director and screenwriter Kahlil Joseph’s experimental film BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions, slated to premiere today in the Next section of the Sundance Film Festival, has been withdrawn by Participant Media. The production company alleges that Joseph submitted a separate, unauthorized cut of the film to festivals, including potentially the Berlin International Film Festival.

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Tonight, the 2025 Sundance Film Festival will honor James Mangold with the Trailblazer Award and Cynthia Erivo with the Visionary Award at its annual gala fundraiser. The evening will also celebrate Michelle Satter, Founding Senior Director of Artist Programs at the Sundance Institute, for her four decades of unwavering dedication to nurturing independent artists. Satter has championed independent film through the Sundance Labs, where visionary artists convene to develop groundbreaking projects through an in-depth creative process. 

The annual Vanguard Awards, Presented by Acura, will be presented to Sean Wang, writer and director of Dìdi (弟弟), and Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie, co-directors of Sugarcane, whose films premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

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Other notable premieres today include Brides; East of Wall; The Librarians; It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley; Dead Lover; André is an Idiot, and GEN_.

The 2025  Sundance Film Festival will take place from January 23–February 2, 2025, in person in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah.

Whether you’re a seasoned film fanatic or curious to discover new talent, check back for daily updates from the festival.